Swindon Town have had positive news on the injury front as Tariq Uwakwe and Reece Devine are getting closer to becoming available for selection.

Uwakwe has been injured since the start of October with a knee problem, and Devine has not played any league football since March of last year with a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury during pre-season that has kept him sidelined for the bulk of his Swindon career.

However, both have received positive updates in their recovery from their long-term absences and could be in line for a return in the next few weeks.

The departures of Remeao Hutton and Tyrese Shade since the turn of the year have depleted Town’s options in full-back areas and getting Uwakwe and Devine back would be a boost to Gavin Gunning’s squad.

Gunning said: “Tariq has started training again, but he had a bit of a knock yesterday, so I don’t think he will be available for selection [against Salford City].

“Reece Devine has had some good news, so hopefully he is only a few weeks away, maybe four [weeks], four or five maybe because he hasn’t had any minutes.

“That is fantastic news for him because he has had a terrible run of injuries.”

Gunning said that he was excited for the return of Uwakwe as he has the ability to play both as a full-back and in midfield, which will help with how he wants the team to play.

He said: “With the way that I want us to evolve into, I would like to play both full-backs inside the pitch, but personnel at the minute don’t lend themselves to that. So, we will adapt until we can recruit.

“I want both full-backs to invert inside to help dominate centrally.

“It is like how Spurs play now, with two that come inside and then they keep the width up high, so you can dominate centrally and strike with the width later on when you have bodies in the box.”

Tom Clayton has been the other long-term absentee from the squad, with the FA Cup embarrassment at the hands of Aldershot Town being his last game.

The defender has been struggling with a thigh injury, but Gunning said that they were waiting on an update on his situation.

Gunning said: “Tom Clayton has got a re-scan today, so we will get the results from that and then see where we stand.”